Seed planter using air propulsion

ABSTRACT

An air-powered device that propels seed from a storage container and distributes seeds from a horizontal tube into a series of vertical tubes, and shoots the seeds from those vertical tubes into the ground. The device can be carried by a human user or mounted on a cart having wheels or skis, and towed through a field while being used to plant seed. The different methods of carrying and operating the device enable farmers to utilize the device in different types of terrain and during different condition. The device can be manufactured from common, affordable materials, such as PVC, and offers rural farmers a portable solution for planting their crops that is efficient and low-cost.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains to devices, systems, and methods forplanting seeds, as well as to methods of manufacturing such devices andsystems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to: a)devices comprising a storage container, an air propulsion apparatus, anda hollow horizontal member and a plurality of hollow vertical members;b) systems comprising a storage container, an air propulsion apparatus,and a hollow horizontal member and a plurality of hollow verticalmembers; and c) methods of manufacturing or using such devices andsystems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In rural areas of the developing world, many people remain mired inpoverty and dependent upon small subsistence level farms as their onlysource of food. These subsistence farmers, reliant on their harvests tofeed themselves and their families, lack the agricultural equipmentneeded to increase the productivity of their harvests. The lowproductivity of these subsistence farms means that farmers are unable togrow any surplus of food that could be sold at the market place,preventing these farmers from earning the income that would allow themto invest in their farms, purchase healthcare and education for theirfamilies, and progress out of poverty towards the middle class.

Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in Asia, presents a vividillustration of the plight faced by Third World subsistence farmers.Plagued by decades of conflict, nearly eighty percent of Cambodia'spopulation lives in rural areas, with many relying on farming as theironly source of food and income. Rice is the primary crop of Cambodianfarmers. To ensure the optimal spacing of the rice plants and tofacilitate weeding and the application of fertilizers, herbicides, orinsecticide, rice is grown in rows, which results in greater crop yieldsfor the rice than growing the crop in other patterns.

In a traditional Cambodian method for rice-farming, farmers plant ricein one or more smaller plots for a certain period of time, and thentransplant the seedlings by hand to the main field for maturation oncethose seedlings have grown to a sufficient size. In contrast, in moredeveloped countries where farming is more machine-intensive andindustrialized, automated equipment capable of mechanically planting andcultivating rice in rows is commonly utilized, replacing the traditionalhand-transplantation techniques used by rural farmers in Cambodia andother Southeast Asian countries.

Unlike the more industrialized farming sectors in other nations, therelative lack of income and resources of many Cambodian farmers meansthat automated equipment for planting rice crops is largely unavailableto these farmers. This means that these farmers must employ human laborto plant their rice crops using the traditional Cambodian method. Thismethod is very labor intensive, as the traditional method can take up tofifty days for a single farmer to plant a one-hectare field of rice. Andrecent years have seen a migration of working aged men and women fromrural Cambodian farming communities to more urban locales in order towork in garment factories or construction in Cambodia or in otherSoutheast Asian countries.

This migration has reduced the amount of labor available to theseCambodian communities, forcing farmers in Cambodia to either plant fewerfields of rice or use less efficient methods for planting rice (such asspreading rice seeds by hand on dry ground, which results in sub-optimalarrangements of the rice crop and many of the seeds being eaten byanimals or failing to sprout). The resulting reduction in crop yieldsnegatively impacts Cambodian farm families, who already struggle tosatisfy their nutritional needs (and to meet their needs for adequatehealthcare and education).

To solve these challenges faced by Cambodian farmers, as well as farmersin other Southeast Asian rice-planting countries, there remains a needfor the development and distribution of devices and techniques thatwould enable these farmers to plant rows of crops while reducing thetime, labor, costs, and overall resources needed to plant their crops.Such devices and techniques would allow these farmers to employ theirlabor more efficiently and waste less seed, water, and fertilizer in theplanting process, not only improving crop yields, but also providing anopportunity for these farmers to allocate more of their time elsewhere(for example, obtaining education). These devices and techniques wouldultimately aid in raising the income of farmers, helping to lift themand their families out of poverty.

While devices for planting rice seeds exist, no known existing designsare sufficient to meet the above-mentioned needs of farmers in Cambodiaor other Southeast Asian nations. While sophisticated devices forplanting rice seed exist and are used in more industrialized nations,such mechanized devices are too expensive and complex for small-scalefarmers. Furthermore, for example, Cambodia's manufacturing sector isrelatively less-developed in comparison with some neighboring countries.Therefore, for a device for planting rice to be truly accessible toCambodian farmers (or rural farmers in other Southeast Asian countries)at a reasonable cost, that device must be capable of being manufacturedlocally, using readily available materials and manufacturing processes.

Simpler devices, such as broadcast planters that use air power to sprayseeds, are inefficient, blowing rice seed in uncontrolled patterns andlacking the concentrated velocity necessary to embed the rice seed intothe soil. If not embedded into the soil, the rice remains on top of thesoil, and is readily eaten by animals or blown away by wind or washedaway by rains. Drum seeders, which are rolled on the ground and dropseed out of holes, also cannot embed the dropped rice seeds into soil,similarly leaving the rice susceptible to being eaten or swept away bywind or rain. Other attempts at developing a suitable device forplanting rice seeds suffered from repeated jamming problems, causingthese attempts to fail.

As discussed above, existing devices and techniques for planting riceseed suffer from deficiencies: failing to effectively plant rice seed inrows without unduly wasting seed, labor, and other resources. As aresult, there remains a need for devices and techniques for plantingrice seeds that do not suffer from the drawbacks shared by theseexisting devices and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed, in certain embodiments, to devicesfor planting seeds, the devices comprising a storage container, an airpropulsion apparatus connected to the storage container, a first hollowmember, a hollow horizontal member connected to the first hollow member,and a plurality of hollow vertical members connected to a bottom of thehollow horizontal member. In certain embodiments, the storage containercontains seeds. In certain further embodiments, the storage container iscapable of holding at least 10 kilograms of seeds. In still furtherembodiments, the storage container is capable of holding at least 20kilograms of seeds.

In certain embodiments, the air propulsion apparatus is connected to thehollow horizontal member via the first hollow member.

In certain embodiments, the first hollow member is a hose.

In certain embodiments, the air propulsion apparatus is a broadcastplanter. In certain further embodiments, the broadcast planter is agasoline-powered broadcast planter. In other further embodiments, thebroadcast planter is an electric-powered broadcast planter. In stillfurther embodiments, the electric-powered broadcast planter comprises abattery.

In certain embodiments, the hollow horizontal member comprises aplurality of pipes and flow reducers connected by T-connectors. Incertain further embodiments, the device further comprises elbowconnectors connected to a first and a second end of the hollowhorizontal member, and a flow reducer connected to each of the elbowconnectors. In still further embodiments, the plurality of pipes, flowreducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors are comprised of PVC.

In certain embodiments, a diameter of the hollow horizontal member at acenter of the hollow horizontal member is greater than both: a) adiameter of the hollow horizontal member at a first end of the hollowhorizontal member; and b) a diameter of the hollow horizontal member ata second end of the hollow horizontal member. In certain furtherembodiments, the diameter of the hollow horizontal member at the firstend is equal to the diameter of the hollow horizontal member at thesecond end.

In certain embodiments, a diameter of the hollow horizontal member at acenter of the hollow horizontal member is equal to both: a) a diameterof the hollow horizontal member at a first end of the hollow horizontalmember; and b) a diameter of the hollow horizontal member at a secondend of the hollow horizontal member.

In certain embodiments, the first hollow member is connected to thehollow horizontal member by a T-connector at a center of the hollowhorizontal member. In certain further embodiments, the first hollowmember is connected to the hollow horizontal member at a top of thehollow horizontal member. In certain embodiments, the T-connectorcomprises a protrusion that divides a perpendicular inlet of theT-connector in half. In certain further embodiments, the protrusioncomprises a sheet of material.

In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of hollow vertical membersis connected to the bottom of the hollow horizontal member by either aT-connector or an elbow connector. In certain further embodiments, eachof the plurality of hollow vertical members comprises a PVC pipe.

In certain embodiments, a diameter of a first end of each of theplurality of hollow vertical members is larger than a diameter of asecond end of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members. Incertain further embodiments, the diameter of the first end of each ofthe plurality of hollow vertical members is equal to or lesser than adiameter of a midpoint of each of the plurality of hollow verticalmembers. In still further embodiments, the first end of each of theplurality of hollow vertical members is located within the T-connectoror elbow connector connecting the hollow vertical member to the hollowhorizontal member.

In certain embodiments, the first end of the at least one of theplurality of hollow vertical members comprises a baffle. In certainfurther embodiments, the first end of the at least one hollow verticalmember comprises a notch. In still further embodiments, a diameter ofthe first end of the at least one hollow vertical member above the notchis smaller than a diameter of the first end of the at least one hollowvertical member below the notch. In even further embodiments, the hollowhorizontal member is engaged with the notch in the first end of the atleast one hollow vertical member.

In certain embodiments, the second end of each of the plurality ofhollow vertical members comprises a nozzle. In further embodiments, thesecond end of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members furthercomprises a nozzle cover. In still further embodiments, the nozzle covercomprises a flexible hose.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of hollow vertical memberscomprises between 4 hollow vertical members and 40 hollow verticalmembers. In certain further embodiments, the plurality of hollowvertical members comprises between 10 hollow vertical members and 30hollow vertical members. In still further embodiments, the plurality ofhollow vertical members comprises between 14 hollow vertical members and18 hollow vertical members. In other further embodiments, the pluralityof vertical members comprises between 22 hollow vertical members and 26hollow vertical members.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of hollow vertical members areevenly spaced along the hollow horizontal member.

The present invention is directed, in certain embodiments, to systemsfor planting seeds, the systems comprising a storage container, an airpropulsion apparatus connected to the storage container, a first hollowmember, a hollow horizontal member connected to the first hollow member,and a plurality of hollow vertical members connected to a bottom of thehollow horizontal member.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the storage container, the airpropulsion apparatus, the first hollow member, the hollow horizontalmember, and the plurality of hollow vertical members is mounted on amovable support. In certain further embodiments, the movable supportcomprises a cart. In still further embodiments, the cart compriseswheels or skis. In even further embodiments, the cart is human-powered,animal-powered, or machine-powered. In certain embodiments, the moveablesupport is covered with a rust-resistant coating.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the storage container, the airpropulsion apparatus, the first hollow member, the hollow horizontalmember, and the plurality of hollow vertical members is carried by ahuman user.

The present invention is directed, in certain embodiments, to methodsfor planting seeds, the methods comprising the steps of filling astorage container with seeds, emptying the seeds from the storagecontainer into an air propulsion apparatus, and propelling the seedsthrough the air propulsion apparatus, through a first hollow member,through a horizontal hollow member, through a plurality of verticalhollow members, and into the ground.

In certain embodiments, the methods comprise the step of soaking theseeds in water for a period of time and then drying the seeds beforefilling the storage container with the seeds.

In certain embodiments, a first end of at least one of the plurality ofvertical hollow members comprises a baffle located inside the hollowhorizontal member, and an equal volume of seeds is propelled into eachof the plurality of vertical horizontal members. In certain furtherembodiments, a second end of each of the plurality of vertical hollowmembers comprises a nozzle, and the velocity of the seeds exiting thenozzle of the vertical hollow member is greater than or equal to thevelocity of the seeds entering the first end of the vertical hollowmember.

In certain embodiments, filling the storage container with seedscomprises filling the storage container with both seeds and fertilizer.In certain further embodiments, the fertilizer mixes with the seeds tocreate a mixture of seeds and fertilizer, and the mixture empties fromthe storage container into the air propulsion apparatus, which propelsthe mixture through the air propulsion apparatus, through the firsthollow member, through the horizontal hollow member, and through theplurality of vertical hollow members and into the ground.

The present invention is directed, in certain embodiments, to methods ofmanufacturing devices for planting seeds, the methods comprising thesteps of thermal forming a T-connector from PVC, thermal forming a sheetof PVC, inserting the sheet of PVC into the T-connector to form a flowdivider, resizing a plurality of PVC pipes, flow reducers, T-connectors,and elbow connectors and gluing the plurality of PVC pipes, flowreducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors together to form a hollowhorizontal member, connecting a storage container to a first hollowmember via an air propulsion apparatus, connecting the hollow horizontalmember to the first hollow member via the flow divider, thermal dieforming a first end of at least one of a plurality of vertical hollowmembers to form a baffle, thermal die forming a second end of each ofthe plurality of vertical hollow members to form a nozzle, and insertingthe first end of each of the plurality of vertical hollow members into abottom of the hollow horizontal member.

In certain embodiments, the step of resizing the plurality of PVC pipes,flow reducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors comprises cutting andgrinding the plurality of PVC pipes, flow reducers, T-connectors, andelbow connectors.

In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise the step ofcovering the horizontal hollow member and the plurality of verticalhollow members with a UV-resistant coating.

In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise the step ofenclosing the hollow horizontal member with a PVC pipe with an innerdiameter less than or equal to an outer diameter of the hollowhorizontal member. In certain further embodiments, enclosing the hollowhorizontal member with the PVC pipe comprises cutting a slit in a bottomof the PVC pipe and stretching the PVC pipe to enclose the hollowhorizontal member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary device for plantingseeds, the device comprising a storage container, an air propulsionapparatus, and a first hollow member, hollow horizontal member, andplurality of hollow vertical members.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the device for planting seeds ofFIG. 1, the device being mounted on a cart that comprises wheels.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the device for planting seeds ofFIG. 1, the device being mounted on a cart that comprises skis.

FIG. 4A depicts a perspective view of the hollow horizontal member andplurality of hollow vertical members of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B depicts a front view of the hollow horizontal member andplurality of hollow vertical members of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4C depicts a side view of the hollow horizontal member andplurality of hollow vertical members of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4D depicts a top view of the hollow horizontal member and pluralityof hollow vertical members of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4E depicts a bottom view of the hollow horizontal member andplurality of hollow vertical members of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 depicts an interior cross-sectional view of the hollow horizontalmember and the plurality of hollow vertical members of FIGS. 4A-4E.

FIG. 6A depicts a perspective view of one of the hollow vertical membersdepicted in FIGS. 4A-4E.

FIG. 6B depicts a front view of one of the hollow vertical membersdepicted in FIGS. 4A-4E.

FIG. 6C depicts a side view of one of the hollow vertical membersdepicted in FIGS. 4A-4E.

FIG. 6D depicts a top view of one of the hollow vertical membersdepicted in FIGS. 4A-4E.

FIG. 6E depicts a bottom view of one of the hollow vertical membersdepicted in FIGS. 4A-4E.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of the exemplary hollow verticalmember depicted in FIGS. 6A-6E, the hollow vertical member furthercomprising a nozzle cover.

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary device for plantingseeds that comprises a frame for mounting and supporting a plurality ofhollow vertical members, handles, and a pair of skis mounted to theframe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to air-powered devices for plantingseeds, systems incorporating those air-powered devices, as well as tomethods of operating and manufacturing such devices and systems forplanting seeds. One embodiment of the invention is a device for plantingseeds, comprising a storage container, an air propulsion apparatus, afirst hollow member, a hollow horizontal member, and a plurality ofhollow vertical members. The storage container is connected to the airpropulsion apparatus, which uses air propulsion to propel seedsthroughout the hollow members of the device and into the ground to beplanted.

A second embodiment of the invention is a system for planting seeds. Thesystem incorporates the air-powered device, and at least a portion ofthe device is mounted on a movable support or carried by a human user.

A third embodiment of the invention is a method of planting seeds,comprising filling the storage container with seeds, emptying the seedsfrom the storage container into the air propulsion apparatus, and usingair power from the air propulsion apparatus to propel seeds throughoutthe hollow members of the device and into the ground to be planted.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is a method for manufacturing theair-powered device for planting seeds, comprising thermal forming a flowdivider from PVC, resizing and gluing together a plurality of PVC pipes,flow reducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors to form a hollowhorizontal member, thermal die forming a plurality of vertical hollowmembers, and connecting together the storage container, air propulsionapparatus, hollow horizontal member, and the plurality of verticalhollow members to prepare the air-powered device for planting seeds.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a device 100 for plantingseeds, in accordance with the present invention. The device 100comprises a storage container 102 capable of storing seeds and thenreleasing those seeds into the device 100 during the planting process.In these embodiments, the storage container 102 holds seeds, fertilizer,or a mixture of both seed and fertilizer. In some embodiments, thestorage container 102 contains rice seeds. However, the type of seedstored in the storage container 102 is not limited to rice seeds—thestorage container 102 may instead contain (for example) seed for corn,mung beans, soy beans, or other types of grains or legumes.

In embodiments, the storage container 102 is comprised of plastic.However, the storage container 102 may be composed of other materials aswell: for example, metals such as steel and/or aluminum, other polymers(such as PVC), or even wood. In certain embodiments of the invention,such as the storage container 102 depicted in the device 100 of FIG. 1,the storage container 102 is a hopper 102 that is integrated into an airpropulsion device 104, such as a hopper 102 that feeds into a broadcastplanter 104. In other embodiments, however, the storage container 102may be separate from the air propulsion device. In these variousembodiments, the storage container 102 may be a hopper, a tub, a basket,or similar storage containers 102. The storage container 102 may becylindrical, square, rectangular, or any other shape suitable forholding seed, fertilizer, and other materials used in the plantingprocess.

In embodiments of the present invention, the storage container 102 hassufficient size and strength to be capable of holding at least 10kilograms of seeds and/or fertilizer. In some of these embodiments ofthe present invention, the storage container 102 possesses sufficientsize and strength to be capable of holding at least 10 kilograms ofseeds (and/or fertilizer). Further, in some of these variousembodiments, the storage container 102 is of sufficient size andstrength to house at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, or at least 30kilograms of seeds (and/or fertilizer). The storage containers 102 ofthe present invention will be capable of holding a varying amount ofseeds depending upon the dimensions of the storage container 102, thetype of seeds (and their size) placed in the storage container 102,whether the seeds were enlarged by soaking them overnight in waterbefore planting, and other considerations.

As discussed above, the seeds in storage container 102 may have beensoaked, and then dried, before the storage container 102 was filled withthose seeds. Soaking the seeds enables the seeds to more efficientlyembed in the ground and to germinate at a faster rate. If the seeds arenot soaked before planting, they may be more susceptible to being blownaway in strong winds, or being eaten by animals, before they embed inthe ground and germinate.

In addition to storage container 102, the device 100 for planting seedsin a field comprises an air propulsion apparatus 104 connected to thestorage container 102. In preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, the device 100 for planting seeds in a field comprises an airpropulsion apparatus 104. In certain preferred embodiments of theinvention, the air propulsion apparatus 104 is a broadcast planter 104(also known as a broadcast seeder, a seed blower, or a broadcast seedblower). The broadcast planter 104 is an agricultural device commonlyused to spread seed, fertilizer, and other substances as well (such as,for example, mulch, lime, salt, or other granular products). Suitablefertilizers for use with broadcast planter 104 include, for example, NPK18-46-0, NPK 15-15-15, NPK 16-20, or NPK 46. The broadcast planter 104operates by feeding seeds or fertilizer from a hopper 102 at acontrolled rate into an air-powered seed blower, which projects theseeds out of the seed blower by spraying them using air power. In someembodiments of the present invention, the seed blower of the broadcastplanter 104 is gasoline- or diesel-powered. However, in otherembodiments of the invention, the seed blower of the broadcast planter104 is electric-powered, and can comprise, for example, a rechargeablebattery which may be recharged from electricity from solar power, windpower, or other renewable energy sources. Instead of a broadcast planter104, however, the air propulsion apparatus 104 could also comprise, forexample, a leaf blower.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the device 100 for plantingseeds comprises a hollow member 106 connected to the air propulsionapparatus 104. In these embodiments, the seeds (and/or fertilizer, ormulch, or other granular material) are propelled into (and through) thehollow member 106 by the air propulsion apparatus 104, and the hollowmember 106 serves to connect the seed storage container 102 and airpropulsion apparatus 104 to the rest of the device 100 for plantingseeds.

In certain embodiments, the hollow member 106 attached to the airpropulsion apparatus 104 may be a flexible hollow member 106, such asthe hose 106 depicted in FIG. 1. In these embodiments, the hollow member106 may comprise a hose 106 (either a corrugated or non-corrugatedhose), composed of (for example) a rubber or a flexible polymer. Inother embodiments, however, the hollow member 106 attached to the airpropulsion apparatus 104 may be made of a rigid material, such as (forexample) PVC pipe, aluminum, steel, or other suitable materials. Inthese embodiments, the hollow member 106 may be a rigid cylindricaltube, for example, instead of a flexible hose.

As shown in the device 100 depicted in FIG. 1, while one end of flexiblehollow member 106 is connected to air propulsion apparatus 104, theother end of flexible hollow member 106 is connected to a horizontalmember 110, into which the seeds from storage container 102 arepropelled from broadcast planter 104 and through flexible hollow member106 into horizontal member 110. The device 100 also comprises aplurality of vertical members 120, which are each attached to a bottomof horizontal member 110. The seeds propelled into hollow horizontalmember 110 are propelled through the hollow horizontal member 110towards the ends of hollow horizontal member 110 and into the pluralityof hollow vertical members 120, and from the ends of the verticalmembers 120 into the ground for planting.

In various embodiments of the device 100 depicted in FIG. 1, the numberof vertical members 120 that are attached to hollow horizontal member110 may vary, based on, for example, the size of hollow horizontalmember 110, and/or the type (and power) of the air propulsion apparatus104. In some preferred embodiments, the device 100 comprises an equalnumber of vertical members 120 on each side of the point where flexiblehollow member 106 connects to hollow horizontal member 110, thedistances between each pair of adjacent vertical members 120 areconstant and equal, and the device 100 is configured so that an equalamount of seed is propelled through each individual one of the pluralityof vertical members 120. In these embodiments, the device 100 will havean even number of vertical members 120. An equal amount of seed beingpropelled through each one of the plurality of vertical members 120allows a farmer to plant even, equidistantly spaced rows of crops, whicheach row containing a relatively equal number of plants. In otherembodiments, however, the number of vertical members 120 on each side ofthe point where flexible hollow member 106 connects to hollow horizontalmember 110 may be different.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of hollowvertical members 120 can comprise between 4 and 40 hollow verticalmembers, between 10 and 30 hollow vertical members, between 22 and 26hollow members, or between 14 and 18 hollow vertical members.

The relative amounts of seed propelled through each of the plurality ofvertical members 120 can be tested by running the device 100 in anexperimental environment, and measuring the amount of seed that ispropelled through each of the plurality of vertical members 120 byplacing a bag or sock over the end of each of the plurality of verticalmembers 120, and then comparing the relative amount of seed that hasbeen collected in each bag or sock.

In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the air propulsionapparatus 104 can be carried by a user of the device 100, for example bymounting the storage container 102 and air propulsion apparatus 104 on abackpack (not shown) or other equipment that can be carried by a user.In these embodiments, one user may carry the storage container 102 andair propulsion apparatus 104 around a field using a backpack or similarequipment, and one or more other users may aid in moving the horizontalmember 110 and vertical members 120 around the field during the plantingprocess.

FIG. 2 depicts a different embodiment of a system 200 for plantingseeds, in which the storage container 102, air propulsion apparatus 104,horizontal member 110, and vertical members 120 are mounted on amoveable support 210. In this exemplary system 200, the moveable support210 is a cart 210 with wheels 220—however, the moveable support couldtake other forms as well (for example, a sled). In system 200, the cart210 helps bear the weight of the storage container 102, air propulsionapparatus 104, horizontal member 110, and vertical members 120, andwheels 220 aid a user of system 200 of moving the system 200 around afield to plant seeds using system 200. The cart 210 and wheels 220 maybe made of metals (such as iron, steel, stainless steel, or aluminum),or other materials such as PVC, bamboo, or wood, (or, in the case of thewheels, rubber) and may be coated with one or more substances thatprotect the cart 210 from rust and/or degradation from ultraviolet (UV)rays (such as rust- and/or UV-resistant paint(s)). In some embodiments,part of the system 200 may be mounted on cart 210 and wheeled (orotherwise moved) by a first user, and a separate part of the system 200may be carried around the field separately by one or more other users.In other exemplary embodiments, however, the cart 210 may be towed by ananimal, or may have a motor or other propulsion device capable ofmechanically propelling cart 210 with little or no effort from a user.

The wheels 220 of cart 210 are useful in moving system 200 around afield in which the ground is relatively firm. However, if the field isinundated with water or relatively muddy (as rice paddies commonly are),the wheels 220 of cart 210 may become bogged down in mud or water,making it difficult to move system 200 around the field. FIG. 3 depictsa different exemplary system 300, featuring a cart 310 with two skis 320upon which the cart 310 is mounted. The skis 320 are preferred in wetterenvironments, such as an inundated rice paddy, in which it is easier forthe system 300 to slide over the ground of a field instead of usingrolling wheels that can become bogged down in the wet ground, such asthe wheels 220 of the cart 210 shown in FIG. 2. The skis 320 of system300 may be made of different materials, for example a rigid plastic(such as PVC plastic) or other polymers, a metal (such as steel oraluminum), or composite materials.

FIGS. 4A-E depicts an exemplary embodiment of the “piping” system 400that comprises both the hollow horizontal member and vertical members ofa device for planting seeds. In this exemplary embodiment, the pipingsystem 400 attaches to a flexible hollow member (such as hollow member106 depicted in FIG. 1) via a T-connector 420. The T-connector 420receives seeds from an air propulsion device (not shown), such as abroadcast planter, and distributes the seeds evenly to each side of theT-connector 420 by utilizing a “flow divider” inside the T-connector 420which splits the flow of seeds. The flow divider (not shown in thisview) may be a flat, planar sheet of material, which splits the volumeinside the perpendicular inlet of the T-connector 420 in half. TheT-connector 420 may be positioned so that the flexible hollow member isattached to the top of the hollow horizontal member, to the side of thehollow horizontal member, or at an angle in-between.

In exemplary preferred embodiments, T-connector 420 and the flow dividerinside are both comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. TheT-connector 420 and the flow divider may be manufactured by thermalforming the T-connector 420 from PVC, thermal forming a sheet of PVC,and then inserting the thermal-formed sheet of PVC into theperpendicular inlet of the T-connector 420 to form a flow divider withinthat perpendicular inlet.

The hollow horizontal member of piping system 400 is comprised of anumber of T-connectors 440 and flow reducers 460 that connect segmentsof pipe 430 to form the hollow horizontal member. The T-connectors 440connect both the segments of pipe 430 with each other, and also connectthe vertical members 410 to the hollow horizontal member. In theexemplary preferred embodiment 400 depicted in FIGS. 4A-E, the segmentsof pipe 430 decrease in diameter along the length of hollow horizontalmember away from T-connector 420 towards the ends of the hollowhorizontal member, because the amount of seed flowing through thesegments of pipe 430 decreases at increasing distances from thereceiving T-connector 420 as seed is directed into each of verticalmembers 410. The flow reducers 460 connect segments of pipe 430 ofdifferent diameters, allowing the hollow horizontal member to decreasein diameter so that a diameter of the hollow horizontal member isgreater at the T-connector 420 than either of the two ends of the hollowhorizontal member, which each comprise elbow connectors 450 whichconnect the end vertical members 410 to the hollow horizontal member.

The segments of pipe 430, the T-connectors 420 and 440, and the flowreducers 460 may be comprised of varying materials, such as metals,polymers, or composites. However, in exemplary preferred embodiments ofthe piping system 400, the segments of pipe 430, the T-connectors 420and 440, and the flow reducers 460 are all comprised of polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic. In exemplary embodiments, the segments of pipe430, the T-connectors 420 and 440, and the flow reducers 460 are resizedand then connected together to form the horizontal hollow member ofsystem 400. Resizing includes, for example, cutting, grinding, and usingother machining techniques to resize the segments of pipe 430, theT-connectors 420 and 440, and the flow reducers 460. After the segmentsof pipe 430, the T-connectors 420 and 440, and the flow reducers 460 areconnected together, they can be glued together to form the hollowhorizontal member.

While the hollow horizontal member of exemplary embodiment 400 iscomprised of a plurality of interconnected segments of pipe 430,T-connectors 420 and 440, and flow reducers 460 as described above, inother embodiments of the invention, the hollow horizontal member maycomprise a single hollow horizontal component (not shown). In theseembodiments, the single hollow horizontal component may be a tube, pipe,or cylinder. In certain embodiments, the single hollow horizontalcomponent has a constant diameter along its length. In otherembodiments, the ends of the hollow horizontal component each have asmaller diameter than the center of the hollow horizontal component.

In the exemplary embodiment 400 depicted in FIGS. 4A-E, the piping 400comprises sixteen vertical members 410, with eight vertical members 410evenly spaced along each side of the T-connector 420. In this exemplaryembodiment, an equal amount of seed is directed into each of the eightvertical members 410. In exemplary piping system 400, of the verticalmembers 410 decreases in diameter from the top of the vertical member410 to the bottom of the vertical member 410, forming a nozzle 415 atthe end of vertical member 410. The nozzle 415 increases the velocity ofseeds being propelled from vertical member 410 (as the cross-sectionalarea of nozzle 415 is smaller in comparison to the upper part ofvertical member 410), and also focuses the area in which seeds arepropelled from vertical member 410, allowing seeds to effectively embedinto the ground of a field in neat, equidistant rows. In someembodiments, the diameter of the vertical member 410 may remain constantalong the majority of the vertical length of vertical member 410, onlydecreasing at the portion of vertical member 410 that comprises nozzle415. In other embodiments, the diameter of the vertical member 410 mayvary along the entire vertical length of vertical member 410, graduallygrowing smaller as it gets closer to nozzle 415.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, vertical member 410, like thesegments of pipe 430, the T-connectors 420 and 440, and the flowreducers 460, is comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. Nozzle415 can be manufactured by thermal die forming an end of vertical member410 into nozzle 415. The vertical members 410 can then be inserted andglued into the perpendicular inlets of T-connectors 440 to connect thevertical members 410 to the piping system 400.

In embodiments, in which vertical members 410, segments of pipe 430, theT-connectors 420 and 440, and flow reducers 460 are comprised of PVC,the PVC piping can be covered or coated with a UV-resistant paint orother coating which helps those PVC pieces resist degradation fromultraviolet radiation, prolonging the life of piping system 400.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of exemplary piping system 500, whichillustrates the flow of seed (and/or fertilizer) through system 500. Asseed enters the system 500 at the perpendicular inlet of T-connector520, flow divider 510 acts to split the flow of seed in half, directingeach half of the seed flow to each side of flow divider 510 and intointerior segments of piping 505. Each of the interior segments of piping505 is connected to each other and to interior vertical members 530 avia T-connectors 508, and the end segments of piping 515 are connectedto end vertical members 530 b via elbow connectors 550. In thisexemplary embodiment 500, the interior segments of piping 505 have alarger diameter than the end segments of piping 515. Seed exits thevertical members 530 a and 530 b at relatively higher velocity fromnozzle 535, as depicted by flow arrows 538.

As seed is propelled horizontally away from T-connector 520 and flowdivider 510, it is caught by the cup-shaped baffles 545 that areconnected to the top of the interior vertical tubes 530 a. Each baffle545 has a closed top, and is shaped as a cup or closed half-pipe which“catches” and re-directs seed (and/or fertilizer) away from thehorizontal flow into interior vertical tubes 530 a, as illustrated byflow arrows 533 a. In preferred embodiments, the baffles 545 aredesigned so that each interior vertical member 530 a catches andreceives an approximately equivalent amount of seed. Each of the baffles545 is connected to a respective interior vertical tube 530 a byconnector 540.

As the flow of seed reaches the end piping segments 515, all of the seedremaining in the flow is directed into end vertical members 530 b, asillustrated by flow arrows 533 b. Thus, there is no need for endvertical members 530 b to be connected to baffles that catch andredirect only a portion of the seed in the flow.

By catching and redirecting approximately equal amounts of seed (and/orfertilizer), the baffles 545 ensure that approximately equal amounts ofcrops are planted in each row, and help prevent the device from jammingfrom one or more vertical tubes 530 a or 530 b having seed propelledinto it at too great a rate.

The baffles 545 may be manufactured from different materials, but inexemplary preferred embodiments, the baffles 545 are comprised of PVCplastic. In these embodiments, the baffles 545 are manufactured bythermal die forming, in which the PVC is heated and then formed/foldedaround a metal or wooden die having the desired cup-like, closedhalf-pipe shape for the baffle 545.

FIGS. 6A-E depict an exemplary interior vertical pipe 530 a having anozzle 535 for propelling seed (and/or fertilizer) and attached to abaffle 545 via connector 520. The bottom portion 540 of baffle 545connects the baffle 545 to connector 520, allowing the cup-shaped baffle545 to catch and redirect seed into the vertical member 530 a. Asdepicted in FIGS. 6A-E, the baffle 545 may decrease in diameter furtheraway from the bottom portion 540 of baffle 545, and may comprise a notchthat can attach to an edge of the horizontal piping.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a vertical member 530 a inwhich a nozzle cover 710 has been attached to nozzle 535. In thisexemplary embodiment, the nozzle cover 710 comprises a plurality offlexible strands 710 a-c which aid in planting seeds on ground that isrelatively dry and firm. When propelled from the nozzle 535, the seedsmay bounce off of the firm ground, away from nozzle 535. Nozzle cover710 helps catch and redirect seeds, helping the seeds to maintain theirposition in relatively orderly rows in the field. The exemplaryembodiment 710 depicted in FIG. 7 is comprised of strands of flexiblerubber hose 710 a-c. However, nozzle covers 710 may take varying formsand be composed of varying materials, including but not limited to ahose, skirt, curtain, or cone that helps direct seed from nozzle 535.

The following Examples are only illustrative. It will be readily seen byone of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention fulfills theobjectives set forth above. After reading the foregoing specification,one of ordinary skill will be able to effect various changes,substitutions of equivalents, and various other embodiments of theinvention as broadly disclosed therein. It is therefore intended thatthe protection granted herein be limited only by the definitioncontained in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

EXAMPLES

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a device 800 for plantingseed. PVC T-connector 420 of device 800 can be attached, via a hose orother connector (not shown) to a broadcast planter or similar device forpropelling seed and/or fertilizer. The T-connector 420 is attached to aset of horizontal PVC piping (not shown), which is enclosed by a pieceof PVC pipe 810. The PVC pipe 810 comprises a slit along its length,which allows the PVC pipe 810 to be stretched to enclose and fit snuglyaround the horizontal PVC piping of device 800.

The exemplary device 800 features 12 vertical members 410, eachcomprised of PVC plastic and having a nozzle 415, and which are spacedequidistantly from each other and connected to the horizontal PVC pipingencased within PVC pipe 810. The vertical members 410 are mounted ontometal frame 840, to which PVC pipe 810 is also attached. The frame 810comprises two metal handles 830, which can be held by users and utilizedto maneuver device 800 around a field for planting.

Device 800 also features two skis 820. The skis 820 are comprised of ametal, such as steel or aluminum, or a plastic, such as PVC. The device800 slides on skis 820 as the users maneuver device 800 around a field,using handles 830, to plant seeds in neat, equidistant rows from thenozzles 415 of the vertical tubes 410 of device 800.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for planting seeds, comprising: astorage container; an air propulsion apparatus connected to the storagecontainer; a first hollow member; a hollow horizontal member connectedto the first hollow member; and a plurality of hollow vertical membersconnected to a bottom of the hollow horizontal member, wherein a firstend of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members is connected tothe bottom of the hollow horizontal member, and wherein the diameter ofthe first end of at least one of the plurality of hollow verticalmembers is equal to or less than a diameter of a midpoint of the atleast one of the plurality of hollow vertical members, and the first endof the at least one of the plurality of hollow vertical memberscomprises: a) a baffle; and b) a notch.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the storage container stores seeds.
 3. The device of claim 2,wherein the storage container is capable of holding at least 10kilograms of seeds.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the storagecontainer capable of holding at least 20 kilograms of seeds.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the air propulsion apparatus is connected tothe hollow horizontal member via the first hollow member.
 6. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the first hollow member is a hose.
 7. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the air propulsion apparatus is a broadcast planter. 8.The device of claim 7, wherein the broadcast planter is agasoline-powered broadcast planter.
 9. The device of claim 7, whereinthe broadcast planter is an electric-powered broadcast planter.
 10. Thedevice of claim 9, the electric-powered broadcast planter comprises abattery.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the hollow horizontal membercomprises a plurality of pipes and flow reducers connected byT-connectors.
 12. The device of claim 11, further comprising elbowconnectors connected to a first and a second end of the hollowhorizontal member, and a flow reducer connected to each of the elbowconnectors.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of pipes,fin reducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors are comprised of PVC.14. The device of claim 11, wherein a diameter of the hollow horizontalmember at a center of the hollow horizontal member is greater than both:a) a diameter of the hollow horizontal member at a first end of thehollow horizontal member; and b) a diameter of the hollow horizontalmember at a second end of the hollow horizontal member.
 15. The deviceof claim 14, wherein the diameter of the hollow horizontal member at thefirst end is equal to the diameter of the hollow horizontal member atthe second end.
 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the first hollowmember is connected to the hollow horizontal member by a T-connector ata center of the hollow horizontal member.
 17. The device of claim 16,wherein the first hollow member is connected to the hollow horizontalmember at a top of the hollow horizontal member.
 18. The device of claim16, wherein the T-connector comprises a protrusion that divides aperpendicular inlet of the T-connector in half.
 19. The device of claim18, wherein the protrusion comprises a sheet of material.
 20. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of hollowvertical members is connected to the bottom of the hollow horizontalmember by either a T-connector or an elbow connector.
 21. The device ofclaim 20, wherein each of the plurality of hollow vertical memberscomprises a PVC pipe.
 22. The device of claim 20, wherein a diameter ofthe first end of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members islarger than a diameter of a second end of each of the plurality ofhollow vertical members.
 23. The device of claim 20, wherein the firstend of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members is locatedwithin the T-connector or elbow connector connecting the hollow verticalmember to the hollow horizontal member.
 24. The device of claim 20,wherein a diameter of the first end of the at least one hollow verticalmember above the notch is smaller than a diameter of the first end ofthe at least one hollow vertical member below the notch.
 25. The deviceof claim 24, wherein the hollow horizontal member is engaged with thenotch in the first end of the at least one hollow vertical member. 26.The device of claim 22, wherein the second end of each of the pluralityof hollow vertical members comprises a nozzle.
 27. The device of claim26, wherein the second end of each of plurality of hollow verticalmembers further comprises a nozzle cover.
 28. The device of claim 27,wherein the nozzle cover comprises a flexible hose.
 29. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of hollow vertical members comprisesbetween 3 hollow vertical members and 30 hollow vertical members. 30.The device of claim 29, wherein the plurality of hollow vertical memberscomprises between 10 hollow vertical members and 20 hollow verticalmembers.
 31. The device of claim 30, wherein the plurality of hollowvertical members comprises between 15 hollow vertical members and 17hollow vertical members.
 32. The device of claim 1, wherein theplurality of vertical members are evenly spaced along the hollowhorizontal member.
 33. A method for planting seeds, comprising: fillinga storage container with seeds; emptying the seeds from the storagecontainer into an air propulsion apparatus; and propelling the seedsthrough the air propulsion apparatus, through a first hollow member,through a horizontal hollow member, through a plurality of verticalhollow members, and into the ground, wherein a first end of at least oneof the plurality of vertical hollow members comprises a half-pipelocated inside the hollow horizontal member, and an equal volume ofseeds is propelled into each of the plurality of vertical horizontalmembers.
 34. The method of claim 33, comprising soaking the seeds inwater for a period of time and then drying the seeds before filling thestorage container with the seeds.
 35. The method of claim 33, wherein asecond end of each of the plurality of vertical hollow members comprisesa nozzle, and the velocity of the seeds exiting the nozzle of thevertical hollow member is greater than or equal to the velocity of theseeds entering the first end of the vertical hollow member.
 36. Themethod of claim 33, wherein filling the storage container with seedscomprises filling the storage container with both seeds and fertilizer.37. The method of claim 36, wherein the fertilizer mixes with the seedsto create a mixture of seeds and fertilizer, and the mixture emptiesfrom the storage container into the air propulsion apparatus, whichpropels the mixture through the air propulsion apparatus, through thefirst hollow member, through the horizontal hollow member, and throughthe plurality of vertical hollow members and into the ground.